Combination inserted brass and aluminum door saddles



Nov. 14, 1961 E. GRUNWALD C'OMBINATION INSERTED BRASS AND ALUMINUM DOOR SADDLES Filed April 6, 1960 INVENTOR. EDWARD GRUNWALD A 7'7JRNEY rates atent ()fiice 3,008,198 COMBINATION INSERTED BRASS AND ALUMINUM DOOR SADDLES Edward Grunwald, 134 W. 58th St., New York, N.Y. Filed Apr. 6, 1960, Ser. No. 20,345 9 Claims. (Cl. 20-64) This invention relates to door saddles and more particularly to a metal door saddle for effecting a weathertight seal under the door when the door is in closed position.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a metal door saddle having nonmetal floor covering inlays, With means in common for fastening the inlays onto the saddle and for trimming or finishing off the saddle.

Another object of the invention is to provide a metal door saddle having nonmetal floor covering inlays with removable means for fastening the inlays onto the saddle.

A further object of the invention is to provide a metal door saddle having nonmetal floor covering inlays with means for guiding the inlays to position on the saddle.

A specific object of the invention is to provide a metal door saddle with a body formed of aluminum and with removable fastening and trimming means formed of brass.

Another object according to a modification of the invention is to provide a metal door saddle wherein the fastening and trimming elements are integral with the body of the saddle.

It is also an object to provide a metal door saddle that is simple in construction, easy to assemble, long lasting, pleasing in appearance and economical to manufacture.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary top perspective view of a metal door saddle embodying my invention, the floor covering inlays being omitted.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional View on the plane of the line 2-2 of FIG. 1, a floor covering inlay being shown.

FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of a fragment of a fastening and trimming device used with the door saddle of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary top perspective view of a modified form of fastening and trimming device adapted to be used with the saddle of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an end view of a fragment of a metal door saddle embodying a modified form of fastening and trim ming device, the floor covering inlays being omitted.

' FIG. 6 is an end view of a metal door saddle embodying a modification of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 2 of a metal door saddle embodying another modified form of the invention. Referring in detail to FIGS. 1 to 3 of the drawings, the door saddle 10 herein illustrated consists of an elongated body or strip 12 of a length to reach across the width of a standard door frame opening. The body is rolled or cast or extruded of aluminum and consists of flat long edges 14 adapted to rest fiatwise upon a horizontal supporting surface such as a floor. Slanting upwardly from the long edges 14 on each side of the body is a narrow flat portion 16 and extending across the space between the top end edges of the side portions 16 is a flat crown portion 18, the crown portion being disposed above. the fiat long edges and side portions.

In accordance with the invention, at the juncture of the flat crown portion 18 with each of the flat slanting side portions 16, the crown portion of the body is formed with a shallow groove 22, dovetail shape in cross section. The grooves extend from end to end of the body and are disposed parallel to the long edges 14.

The outer long edges 14 of the body are each formed with an enlargement therealong in the form of a rail 30 having a flat downwardly and outwardly slanting top wall. A shallow groove 32 similar to the grooves 22 is formed along each rail 30 at the top center thereof. The inner side wall of each rail 30 is flat and intersects the flat top wall of the adjacent slanting portion 16 thereby forming a square corner 34 thereat.

In each of the dovetail grooves 22 an elongated rail 38 is removably inserted or mounted endwise. Each rail 38 has a narrow elongated solid body of white brass'sub stantially semicircular in cross section, constituting a curved top portion 40 and fiat base portions 42. Along the center of each flat base portion 42 there is a radially protruding rail member 43 extending the length of the rail and having outer ends 45 of similar cross section to the cross section of the grooves 22 but of slightly smaller dimensions. The rails are inserted endwise of the grooves with the outer ends 45 riding in the grooves 22, the sides of the rail members and grooves interlocking, as will be understood.

The flat crown portion 18 of the body is formed with a downwardly extending enlargement 19 depending from the body underneath the left-hand groove 22 as seen in FIG. 1, and extending from end to end of the body. The enlargement 19 ends remote from the floor. A similar enlargement 20 is formed on the body underneath the right-hand groove 22 but this enlargement extends to the floor and helps support the saddle. The enlargements reinforce the body at the points of the grooves, and the enlargement 20 serves as a supporting rail for the saddle should the right slanding flat portion 16 be cut away from the body. In such instance, the enlargement 20 also serves as an abutment for the edge of the floor covering.

Similarly, in each of the dovetail grooves 32, an elongated rail 38 is removably inserted or mounted endwise. Each rail 38 has a narrow elongated solid body of white brass substantially semicircular in cross section, constituting a curved top portion 40 and a flat base portion 42 there is a radially protruding rail member 43* extending the length of the rail and of similar cross section to the cross section of the grooves 32 but .of slightly smaller dimensions. The rails 38 are insertedendwise of the rails 30 with the radially protruding rail members 43 riding in the grooves 32, the sides of the rail members and grooves interlocking as will be understood.

A series of spaced countersunk holes 48 are formed in the fiat crown portion 18 for receiving fastening members such as screws 50 for fastening the door saddle to the floor.

The top wall of the crown portion 18 and the adjacent side walls of the rails 38 define a central channel 52, and the top walls of the slanting portions 16 and the adjacent side walls of the rails 38 and the side walls of the long edge rails 30 define side channels 54.

The central channel 52 is adapted to receive an insert in the form of an elongated facing strip or floor covering strip 60 having the same configuration as the channel and adapted to be clamped in positionby the adjacent flat sections of the base portion 42 of the rails 38. The side channels 54 are each adapted to receive a similar insert but narrower in the form of a facing strip 62.. The

top surface [facing strip 60 is flush with the flat base portion 42 of the intermediate rails 38, 38 and the top surfaces of the facing strips 62 are flush with the flat base portions 42 of the end rails 38*, 38 The facing or floor covering strips may be composed of iinoleum, corna 3 pgciition material, rubber tile or other-wear-resisting mater1 The facing strips or floor covering strips are first insorted between the side walls of the rails. and 38 are then inserted through the grooves 22 and 32, respectively, with their long edges overlapping and contacting the long edges of'the facing strips. The rails 38 and 38 thus clamp the facing stn'psin position and at the same time serve as for the saddle. This assembly operation is done at the plant by the manufacturer. It will be noted that each facing strip has its side edges squared to fit in the similarly shaped corners of the channels.

The rails 38 and 38 instead of having a curved top portion as shown in FIG. l'may have the top portion tapering from the long side edges upwardly toward the center as indicated at 70' in FIG. 5 forming a longitudinal central ridge 72 therealong.

The modification shown in FIG. 6 differs from the form of door saddle shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, inclusive, in that the rails 38 are formed integrally with the aluminum body 18 of the saddle. In this form the facing strips 60' and 62 are inserted endwise: underneath the long edges of the rails. The saddle is fastened to the floor by means of screws 50' extending through spaced openings 48' in the body 18.

An enlargement 20' is also formed on the body '18 under the intermediate rail 38' at the right to serve the same purpose as the enlargement 20;

'The modified form of invention shown in FIG. 7 difiersonly slightly from the form of FIG. 1 in that the enlargement 20 corresponding to the enlargement 20 is formed with a dovetail groove 63 to receive removably and slidably a rail 64 formed with a dovetail extension 65 on its top surface to enact with the groove. If the slanting portion 16 is cut away, the rail 64 is mounted on the enlargement 20 and serves as a supporting leg forthe saddle.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

V Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters. Patent 1-. In a. metal door saddle, an elongated aluminum substantially fiat body, rails along the long end edges of the body and protruding radially thereabove, intermediate rails spaced inwardly from the end rails and from each other, said intermediate rails extending the length of the body and protruding radially thereabove, said intermediate rails and body defining a central shallow channel, said intermediate rails and end rails defining a shallow side channel on each side of the ceutralchannel, and a floor covering insert in each channel held therein by the rails.

2. "In a metal door saddle, an elongated aluminum substantially flat body having grooves alongthe long end edges thereof and having intermediate grooves spaced inwardly of the end grooves and from each other, removable brass inserts in the end grooves of the body and protruding radially thereabove, removable brass rail inserts in the intermediate grooves, said intermediate rail inserts extending the length of the body, and protruding radially thereabove, said intermediate rail inserts and body defining a central shallow channel, said intermediate rail inserts, end rails inserts and body defining a shallow side channel on each side of the central channel, and removable iloor covering inserts in said channels, said removable rails clamping the floor covering inserts in position and trimming the saddle. V I

. 3. In a metal door saddle, an elongated aluminum substantially flat body having grooves along the long end edges thereof and having intermediate grooves spaced inwardly of the end grooves and from each other, remov The rails 38 able brass rail inserts in the end. grooves of the body and along the central channel having spaced openings to receive elements for fastening the saddle to a supporting surface.

4. A metal door saddle as defined in claim 2, wherein the grooves are dovetail shape in cross section and each rail insert has a downwardlyprojectingcentral enlargement slidab-le in its respective groove, said enlargement being dovetail in cross section to conform to the shape of the groove.

5. A metal door saddle as defined in claim 2, wherein the removable brass rail inserts each has a solid curved body substantially semicircular in cross section.

6. A metal door saddle as defined in claim 2, wherein the removable brass rail inserts each has a solid body with a flat base and a top tapering inwardly and upwardly from each long edge thereof toward the center thereby forming an elongated ridge along the center thereof.

7. A metal door saddle comprising an elongatedaluminum substantially flat body, integral rails along the long end edges of the body and protruding radially thereabove, intermediate rails spaced inwardly from the end rails and from each other and integrally formed with the body, said rails protruding radially above the body, said rails having curved tops and laterally projecting long edgeswith flat undersurfaces, said intermediate rails and body defining a shallow central channel, said intermediate and end edge rails defining shallow channels alongside the central channel, and floor covering inserts in said channels, clamped in position by the laterally projecting long edges of the rails.

8. In a metal door saddle, an elongated aluminum substantially flat body having grooves along the. long end edges thereof and having intermediate grooves spaced inwardly of the end grooves and from each other, removable brass rail inserts in the end grooves of the body and protrudingrad-ially thereabove, removable brass intermediate rail inserts in the intermediate grooves, said intermediate rail inserts extending the length of the body and protruding radially thereabove, said intermediate rail inserts,

and body defining a central shallow channel, said intermediate rail inserts, end rail inserts and body defining a shallow side channel on each side of the central channel, removable floor covering inserts in said channels, said removable rail inserts clamping the floor covering inserts in position and trimming the saddle, and enlargements depending from the bottom of the body underneath the intermediate grooves for the length of the body for reinforcing the body, one of said depending enlargements extending to the supporting surface to serve as a supporting leg for the body.

9. In a metal door saddle, an elongated aluminum substantially flat body having grooves along the long end edges thereof and having intermediate grooves spaced inwardly of the end grooves and from each 0ther,'removable brass rail inserts in the end grooves of the body and protruding radially thereabove, removable brass intermediate rail inserts in the intermediate grooves, said intermediate rail inserts extending the length of the body and protruding radially thereabove, said intermediate rail inserts and body defining a central shallow channel, said intermediate rail inserts, end rail inserts and body defining a shallow side channel on each side of the central channel, removable fioor covering inserts in said channels, said removable rail inserts clamping the floor covering inserts in position and trimming the saddle, and enlargements depending from the bottom of the body underneath the intermediate grooves for the length of the body, said enlargements terminating remote from the supporting surface, one of said enlargements having a dovetail groove in the bottom surface thereof, and a rail removably and slidably mounted in said dovetail groove, said rail having an extension on its top surface dovetail in cross section coacting with the dovetail groove for holding the rail in position, said latter rail adapted to serve as a supporting leg should the slanting portion of the body be cut off the body.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,838,812 Oehmig June 17, 1958 

